Cruz water donation spurs controversy

Presidential candidate Ted Cruz waded into the Flint water crisis, and into controversy, last week by donating just under 600 gallons of water, much of it to crisis pregnancy centers.

The donation was widely covered by political media sites and drew a storm of protest from pro-choice organizations with the National Abortion Rights Action League, which called it "a new low, even for Ted Cruz."

But the Texas senator's state grassroots coordinator said the controversy was overblown.

"It doesn't concern us, because it (donating the water) was the right thing to do," said Wendy Day, of Marion Township. "We wanted to laser focus the donations on where they would do the most good."

In addition to donating to the four crisis pregnancy centers, Day said, donations ere also made to a homeless shelter and HUD housing development.

Water was donated to the pregnancy centers, Day said, because the campaign had heard it was needed to mix baby formula.

Donations were made Jan. 20.

On her Facebook page, Day reported that just under 600 gallons of water was donated. The post drew 18 "likes" but also a few critical comments.

"He (Cruz) obviously doesn't understand how lead causes miscarriages. Lead poisoning, the only abortions Republicans approve of," wrote a poster who identified herself as April Clarke.

Cruz's donation was a sidelight to the ongoing controversy surrounding Flint's switch from the Detroit water system to a local source while under an emergency financial manager appointed by Gov. Rick Snyder.

Corrosive water from the new source caused leaching from pipes, contributing to elevated lead levels in city water. That, in turn, has been linked to elevated lead levels in the blood of Flint children, which can cause a number of potential long-term health issues.